Modular storage container system and method

ABSTRACT

A modular storage container system includes a first container shell component having a base, a plurality of sidewalls extending around the base to define a storage chamber, an inner volume, and a flange extending around a top portion of the plurality of sidewalls. In addition, the system includes a peg and groove connector including a male part and a female part, the peg and groove connector symmetrically repeated around the flange and the base to form a plurality of connection sites. The included connection sites are useful for removably coupling the first container shell component with a second plurality of connection sites from a second container shell component. The modular storage container system allows a user to construct nestable storage configurations using a plurality of the included container shell components.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/407,793 filed Oct. 13, 2016, whichis incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understandingthe present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of theinformation provided herein is prior art nor material to the presentlydescribed or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or documentthat is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of receptacles ofexisting art and more specifically relates to a modular storagecontainer system.

RELATED ART

Small articles typically used at home or work are often received inpackages unsuitable for storage. Such articles are loosely stored indraws or boxes, within which the article was purchased, that are notconducive to organized storage and do not provide easy access when thearticle is needed. Containers having partitioned sections and modularcontainer units dimensioned for easy arrangement and use have proven tobe effective in the organizing and storage of such loosely arrangedarticles. In particular, self-stacking plastic containers of varyingstyles and construction have proven to be effective in organizing andstoring such articles as cosmetics, fishing lures, kitchen products, andfood products.

Many people use multiple containers for storage and organizationalpurposes. These containers vary greatly in size and shape.Unfortunately, they may take up more room and allow less space to storeitems because of the way the containers may be constructed. A suitablesolution is desired.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,925 to Thomas G. Petruzzi relates to an interlockingstackable container storage system. The described interlocking stackablecontainer storage system includes a portable plastic container has atapered tongue on a lid top wall arranged for positioning within atapered groove of a similar container bottom wall for verticallystacking a selected quantity of containers in an interlockingarrangement. Interlocking the containers permits opening of anycontainer without the need for rearranging and restacking. Forinterlocking one container to another, the bottom groove of onecontainer is forced into the top tongue of a similar container. Asnapping sound is heard as the tongue passes through a slightly smallergroove opening to its seated position within the groove, thus providingseating feedback and assurance to the user that the containers areproperly interlocked.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known receptacleart, the present disclosure provides a novel modular storage containersystem. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will bedescribed subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a geometricallyshaped interlocking and stackable container system that may beconfigured in a variety of arrangements.

A modular storage container system is disclosed herein. The modularstorage container system may include a first container shell componenthaving a base, a plurality of sidewalls extending around the base todefine a storage chamber, an inner volume, and a flange extending arounda top portion of the plurality of sidewalls. In addition, the system mayinclude a peg and groove connector including a male part and a femalepart, the peg and groove connector symmetrically repeated around theflange and the base to form a plurality of connection sites. Theincluded connection sites may be useful for removably coupling the firstcontainer shell component with a second plurality of connection sitesfrom a second container shell component. The modular storage containersystem may allow a user to construct nestable storage configurationsusing a plurality of the included container shell components.

According to another embodiment, a method of using a modular storagecontainer system is also disclosed herein. The method of using a modularstorage container system may include providing a modular storagecontainer system, placing an item for storage within a first containershell component, providing a second container shell component, andcoupling the second container shell component with the first containershell component.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages,and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is tobe understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achievedin accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus,the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achievesor optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught hereinwithout necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught orsuggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to benovel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in theconcluding portion of the specification. These and other features,aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become betterunderstood with reference to the following drawings and detaileddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specificationillustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, amodular storage container system, constructed and operative according tothe teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the modular storage container systemduring an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 2 is a close-in view of the modular storage container system ofFIG. 1 showing a first container shell component including a peg andgroove connector, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the modular storage container system ofFIG. 1 showing a plurality of container shell components arranged in astackable configuration for displaying and storing items, according toan embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the modular storage container system ofFIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view the modular storage container system ofFIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using the modularstorage container system, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter bedescribed in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein likedesignations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate toreceptacles and more particularly to a modular storage container systemas used to provide a geometrically-shaped interlocking, nestable, andstackable container system that may be configured in a variety ofarrangements.

Generally speaking, the modular storage container system provides anintelligent, interlocking, and stack-able container system for use inresidential and commercial fields. The system may offer variousgeometrical shapes to accommodate any size wall space in a home, office,or business location. The system may also allow users to stack andconnect the containers vertically and horizontally to display and storedifferent types of products. The present invention may consumeninety-five percent of the intended applicable space and conserveninety-three percent of storage and transportation space.

The modular storage container system may feature a plurality of specialreversible and non-reversible tongue-and-groove or peg-and-grooveconnectors that allow the container shell components to attachhorizontally, vertically, and at a variety of angles with each other.The components may also be inverted for removable coupling with othercomponents and accessories. The system may be configured fromlightweight materials including plastics, rubber, silicone, and lightmetals for durable use. The peg connectors included in the system may beconfigured as cylinders, cones, raised lines, and other shapes thatallow for sturdy frictional retaining to occur. The components mayinclude these connectors along the sides, front, back, bottom, andcorners in order to provide as many configuration options as possible.

The container shell components may be inverted and paired together toform sealed enclosures for storing items. These sealed enclosures maythen be combined with other sealed enclosures from the system to formrows, towers, or blocks of storage and display modules. The system mayfurther include accessories and other module joints that allow a user toconstruct different designs and shapes with the shell components. Theaccessories may include flat top surfaces, braces, joint connectors, andother devices. The shell components may include a flange surrounding thetop or bottom of each side walled containment unit. This flange mayinclude a lip that allows for connections with peg and groove connectorsfrom other components in the system. The shell components may alsoinclude apertures or vent patterns for storing specialty items like foodor clothing.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals ofreference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4B, various views of a modularstorage container system 100.

FIG. 1 shows a modular storage container system 100 during an ‘in-use’condition 50, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.Here, the modular storage container system 100 may be beneficial for useby a user to provide a geometrically-shaped interlocking, nestable, andstackable container system that may be configured in a variety ofarrangements. As illustrated, the modular storage container system 100may include a first container shell component 110 having a peg andgroove connector 120 configured to form a plurality of connection sites130. The modular storage container system 100 may also include a secondcontainer shell component 150. In combination, the first container shellcomponent 110 and the second container shell component 150 may couple toform a first half 160 and a second half 161 of a geometrical shape 162to completely enclose a stored item 10. This geometrical shape 162 maybe configured to allow for repeated combinations and stacking or nestingof said combinations to form a plurality of storage and display options.Each first container shell component 110 may include at least oneopening 170, where the at least one opening 170 may be repeated to forma vent pattern 171.

According to one embodiment, the modular storage container system 100may be arranged as a kit 105. In particular, the modular storagecontainer system 100 may further include a set of instructions 107. Theinstructions 107 may detail functional relationships in relation to thestructure of the modular storage container system 100 such that themodular storage container system 100 can be used, maintained, or thelike, in a preferred manner.

FIG. 2 shows the modular storage container system 100 of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, themodular storage container system 100 may include a first container shellcomponent 110 having a base 111, a plurality of sidewalls 112 extendingaround the base 111, and a flange 115 extending around a top portion 116of the plurality of sidewalls 112. The first container shell component110 may also include a peg and groove connector 120 having a male part121 and a female part 122. In the present embodiment, the peg and grooveconnector 120 may be symmetrically repeated around the flange 115 toprovide multiple interlocking combinations between components of themodular storage container system 100.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the modular storage container system 100of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Asabove, the modular storage container system 100 may include a firstcontainer shell component 110 configured to define a storage chamber 113and an inner volume 114 for storing items. Each of the first containershell components 110 may include a peg and groove connector 120 forcoupling with other components in the modular storage container system100. The modular storage container system 100 may also feature anauxiliary attachment 140 that includes a peg and groove connector 120for coupling with at least one container shell component 110.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the modular storage container system 100of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Again,the modular storage container system 100 may include a peg and grooveconnector 120 having a male part 121 and a female part 122. The maleparts 121 and female parts 122 in the modular storage container system100 may be configured in a plurality of frictionally-coupling shapesincluding cylinders, cones, and tongue-and-groove lines with matchingrecesses.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using 500 a modularstorage container system 100, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. In particular, the method of using 500 a modular storagecontainer system 100 may include one or more components or features ofthe modular storage container system 100 as described above. Asillustrated, the method of using 500 a modular storage container system100 may include the steps of: step one 501, providing a modular storagecontainer system 100 including a first container shell component 110having a base 111, a plurality of sidewalls 112 extending around thebase 111 to define a storage chamber 113, an inner volume 114, and aflange 115 extending around a top portion 116 of the plurality ofsidewalls 112 and a peg and groove connector 120 including a male part121 and a female part 122, the peg and groove connector 120symmetrically repeated around the flange 115 and the base 111 to form aplurality of connection sites 130; step two 502, placing an item forstorage within a first container shell component 110; step three 503,providing a second container shell component 150; and step four 504,coupling the second container shell component 150 with the firstcontainer shell component 110.

Optional steps of method of use 500 are illustrated using dotted linesin FIG. 5 so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method ofuse 500. It should also be noted that the steps described in the methodof use can be carried out in many different orders according to userpreference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “stepfor”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisionsof 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriatecircumstances, considering such issues as design preference, userpreferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements,available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for themodular storage container system 100 are taught herein.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary andnumerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readilyenvisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which areintended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention.Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application.

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:
 1. A modular storage container systemcomprising: a first container shell component having a base, a pluralityof sidewalls extending around the base to define a storage chamber, aninner volume, and a flange extending around a top portion of theplurality of sidewalls; and a peg and groove connector including a malepart and a female part, the peg and groove connector symmetricallyrepeated around the flange and the base to form a plurality ofconnection sites; and wherein the plurality of connection sites of thefirst container shell component are configured to removably couple witha second plurality of connection sites from a second container shellcomponent.
 2. The modular storage container system of claim 1, whereinthe first container shell component and the second container shellcomponent couple to form a first half and a second half of a geometricalshape.
 3. The modular storage container system of claim 2, wherein thegeometrical shape is configured to completely enclose a stored item. 4.The modular storage container system of claim 1, wherein the pluralityof sidewalls includes at least one opening.
 5. The modular storagecontainer system of claim 4, wherein the at least one opening isrepeated to form a vent pattern.
 6. The modular storage container systemof claim 1, wherein the second container shell component is stackablewithin the first container shell component.
 7. The modular storagecontainer system of claim 1, wherein the male part of the peg and grooveconnector is cylindrically shaped.
 8. The modular storage containersystem of claim 1, wherein the male part of the peg and groove connectoris conically shaped.
 9. The modular storage container system of claim 1,wherein the plurality of connection sites is configured for horizontalcoupling.
 10. The modular storage container system of claim 1, whereinthe plurality of connection sites is configured for vertical coupling.11. The modular storage container system of claim 1, wherein theplurality of connection sites is configured for inverted couplingbetween the first container shell component and the second containershell component.
 12. The modular storage container system of claim 1,wherein the first container shell component is semi-rigid.
 13. Themodular storage container system of claim 1, wherein the first containershell component is configured as a single contiguous piece.
 14. Themodular storage container system of claim 1, wherein the first containershell component comprises plastic.
 15. The modular storage containersystem of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary attachment.
 16. Themodular storage container system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliaryattachment includes a peg and groove connector for coupling with atleast one container shell component.
 17. A modular storage containersystem comprising: a first container shell component having a base, aplurality of sidewalls extending around the base to define a storagechamber, an inner volume, and a flange extending around a top portion ofthe plurality of sidewalls; and a peg and groove connector including amale part and a female part, the peg and groove connector symmetricallyrepeated around the flange and the base to form a plurality ofconnection sites; further comprising an auxiliary attachment; whereinthe plurality of connection sites of the first container shell componentare configured to removably couple with a second plurality of connectionsites from a second container shell component; wherein the firstcontainer shell component and the second container shell componentcouple to form a first half and a second half of a geometrical shape;wherein the geometrical shape is configured to completely enclose astored item; wherein the plurality of sidewalls includes at least oneopening; wherein the at least one opening is repeated to form a ventpattern; wherein the second container shell component is stackablewithin the first container shell component; wherein the male part of thepeg and groove connector is cylindrically shaped; wherein the pluralityof connection sites is configured for horizontal coupling andalternately for vertical coupling; wherein the plurality of connectionsites is configured for inverted coupling between the first containershell component and the second container shell component; wherein thefirst container shell component is semi-rigid; wherein the firstcontainer shell component is configured as a single contiguous piece;wherein the first container shell component comprises plastic; andwherein the auxiliary attachment includes a peg and groove connector forcoupling with at least one container shell component.
 18. The modularstorage container system of claim 17, further comprising set ofinstructions; and wherein the system is arranged as a kit.
 19. A methodof using a modular storage container system, the method comprising thesteps of: providing a modular storage container system including a firstcontainer shell component having a base, a plurality of sidewallsextending around the base to define a storage chamber, an inner volume,and a flange extending around a top portion of the plurality ofsidewalls and a peg and groove connector including a male part and afemale part, the peg and groove connector symmetrically repeated aroundthe flange and the base to form a plurality of connection sites; placingan item for storage within a first container shell component; providinga second container shell component; and coupling the second containershell component with the first container shell component.
 20. The methodof claim 19, further comprising the steps of: uncoupling the secondcontainer shell component from the first container shell component; andstacking the second container shell component within the first containershell component.